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The Designated Players | An MLS Podcast

Andrew Barnikel, Adam Tamburello, Connor Wright
MLS
Major League Soccer
Jaime Moreno
Sebastian Giovinco
Joseph Martinez
Carlos Ruiz
Robbie Keane
US Open Cup
Toronto FC
Houston Dynamo
Clint Dempsey
Kei Kamara
Chris Wondolowski
Landon Donovan
Chicago Fire
David Beckham
Premier League
New England Revolution
Don Garber
USL

We are The Designated Players | An MLS Podcast! Your home for all things MLS, Past Present and Future! Hosted by Andrew Barnikel and Connor Wright

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes412Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Sports NewsNewsSportsSoccer

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Latest Episodes

In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're ending off season 6 with just a little more MLS news. This week we're talking about Vancouver's talks of almost moving and also a new stadium, followed by Colora... more

In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're reacting to our predictions we made at the start of the season, and oh boy there are some bad ones in here. Our predictions included standings predictions, award... more

In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're covering Don Garber's State of the League address. In his address, Don talks about all things from the calendar change to the possibility of MLS adopting pro/rel... more

In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're coming in with a recap of the MLS Cup Final as Miami and Messi have lifted their first ever MLS Cup! We recap the game and see where things went right and wrong ... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Juan Wanners
Guest from Box State Footy providing insights on the Colorado Rapids
Box State Footy
Episode: Episode 397: What Went Wrong For The Colorado Rapids In 2025 ft Box State Footy!
Mark Fishkin
Host of the podcast Seeing Red, focused on the New York Red Bulls
Seeing Red
Episode: Episode 394: What Went Wrong For The New York Red Bulls in 2025 ft Seeing Red!
Caleb Pongratz
MLS and New England Revolution writer and analyst
Post International
Episode: Episode 387: What Went Wrong For The New England Revolution In 2025? Ft Caleb Pongratz!
John Rawlins
Orlando City supporter and podcast host
Loud and Proud Orlando
Episode: Episode 373: Don Garber's state of the league address ft John Rawlins
Adri Mehmeti
Midfielder for Red Bull 2 and young talent in MLS Next Pro
Red Bull 2
Episode: Episode 364: The Pathway To The Pros Episode 2: Adri Mehmeti
Matty Dos Santos
Current Red Bull 2 player at the MLS Next Pro level
Red Bull 2
Episode: Episode 347: Life in the Red Bull academy with Matthew Dos Santos
Favian Renkel
Soccer reporter and influencer
Episode: Episode 341: Club World Cup Drama And MLS All Star Game Announced Ft Favian Renkel!
Deon (Nerdy Soccer Guy)
Soccer enthusiast and host of soccer-related content.
Nerdy Soccer Guy
Episode: Episode 339: MLS Executives Give Their Thoughts On The State of MLS, and so do we! ft Nerdy Soccer Guy!
Eli Lesser
A sports content creator and former guest on the show.
EliLesserTV
Episode: Episode 338: A Deep Dive Into MLS' Apple TV Deal ft EliLesserTV!

Hosts

Andrew Barnikel
Co-host of The Designated Players | An MLS Podcast
Connor Wright
Co-host of The Designated Players | An MLS Podcast

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 32 ratings
  • Good pod

    Guys do a good job and are talented at podcasting. However knowledge could be stronger. For example how can you repeatedly call the league MVP “Luchy.” It’s Lucho. And similar mistakes that makes me wonder how much soccer you watch. It’s like having an nba podcast and calling him “dabron james.”

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    CompetitivePokemonAllTheWay
    United Statesa year ago
  • English

    Please learn how to speak English

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    g3423
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Podcast to get your weekly MLS updates, awesome interview guests from all over the country, and a real fun time overall!

    Podchaser
    5
    Andrew Barnikel
    6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the hosts' engaging style and knowledge of MLS, often praising their analysis and insights into matches and team strategies.
Some feedback mentions concerns over accuracy, suggesting that the hosts should work on improving their knowledge of players and league details.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#207
United States/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#27
Canada/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#91
Russia/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#160
South Korea/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#182
Taiwan/Sports/Soccer

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 400: What Went Wrong For DC United in 2025
Q: What needs to be improved from the start of 2026?
The defense needs a major overhaul to allow for better attacking opportunities.
Episode 388: What Went Wrong For Toronto FC In 2025? ft Waking The Red!
Q: What is the biggest thing that this team needs to fix in 2026 to be successful?
Get an attacking player, particularly a proven goal scorer, and remove some of the existing underperforming contracts.
Episode 387: What Went Wrong For The New England Revolution In 2025? Ft Caleb Pongratz!
Q: What's the number one thing that this team needs to fix if they're going to be successful next year?
It's prioritizing the depth pieces that this team has and finding a better usage for them.
Episode 366: Reacting to the 2025 Gold Cup
Q: Your thoughts, shall we go for a third manager in this cycle for the 2026 World Cup?
Don't even bother. It's dumb to fire your coach a year out from the World Cup.
Episode 366: Reacting to the 2025 Gold Cup
Q: What do you think is the biggest worry that you still leave this tournament with?
The back line is still a little bit of a question mark for me, though there are good pieces. I'm worried about Tim Ream getting older and the other depth pieces.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Designated Players

What is The Designated Players about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Covering the vibrant landscape of Major League Soccer (MLS), this podcast provides listeners with in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions on various aspects of the league. Episodes often recap significant matches, discuss player performances, and delve into the implications of coaching changes, all while maintaining an engaging and light-hearted tone. Unique to this show is its blend of tactical discussions and fan-oriented insights, providing both serious analysis and entertaining banter regarding upcoming matches, player trades, and league developments. This creates a rich experience for soccer enthusiasts and fans alike, who can deepen their understanding of MLS and its dynamics through each episode.

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How many listeners does The Designated Players get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Designated Players?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Designated Players:

1. MLS Now Podcast
2. MLS Aces Podcast
3. Soccerwise
4. Battered MLS Fans
5. Call It What You Want: A CBS Sports Golazo Network Podcast

How many episodes of The Designated Players are there?

The Designated Players launched 6 years ago and published 412 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Designated Players?

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What guests have appeared on The Designated Players?

Recent guests on The Designated Players include:

1. Juan Wanners
2. Mark Fishkin
3. Caleb Pongratz
4. John Rawlins
5. Adri Mehmeti
6. Matty Dos Santos
7. Favian Renkel
8. Deon (Nerdy Soccer Guy)

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